Raymond Reviews Pho Hoan Pasteur
I reviewed Pho Hoan Pasteur. I did not know they had so many locations until I did research for this piece. I ate at the one on 11443 Kingsway NW. That location is also close to the Blatchford neighbourhood, so this is still planning related. It’s a pretty typical Vietnamese pho spot, complete with a shrine at the entrance. It’s open for lunch and dinner service (11AM to 8PM).
I had the Spicy Beef Sate Pho with Peanuts or the #16. That translates to something in vietnamese that I’m too scared to attempt to say to the waitress. The soup was not really all that spicy, but was still quite tasty. Nice bit of tang. I wish there were more peanuts or more of a peanutty element. I could taste it but I really like peanuts so I wouldn’t have minded a stronger flavour. I drank all the soup and liked it, which is a good sign. It was a very nourishing meal.
It cost $20.53 for a large bowl plus tip. I thought that was an okay price. There are other Vietnamese restaurants that offer a better price to soup ratio but this isn’t so far off the mark.
I did enjoy the food overall. I don't have much to say about the service (it was fine!) or the ambiance. Seems there was an average amount of people when I came in of multiple ethnicities if that matters to you. Please don’t ask me to count Vietnamese people. Is ambiance a thing people care about in restaurants outside of dates? I ate alone so I could spill as much soup over my shirt as I wished. Don’t you hate it when you have to excuse yourself to the washroom when you spill something on your shirt, then squirt soap all over your shirt and try to rinse out the stains, but then you spill water all over your pants and it looks like you had an accident, then you have to think of a way to play that off to a girl you really like? And then you come out of the washroom and both laugh it off, but you can see in her eyes that, indeed, she has lost a little respect for you? And then she moves to Calgary and you never see her again? The washrooms have a big enough sink that you can do that here. Also, Pho Hoan Pasteur has locations in Calgary as well so it would’ve happened in either metropolitan Albertan region.
Oh uh, 8/10, pretty good bowl of soup, the meal came quick too which was nice. I wish there were slightly more peanuts. A decent pot of tea comes with your meal too. Two thumbs up!
Written by GAPSS Media Committee Member Raymond L.